Arctic Fox - Vulpes Lagopus This little guy is called an arctic fox the scientific word for it is Vulpes lagopus and the latin name for the arctic fox is Arcticum Vulpes. Here is a video of an arctic fox in action.Arctic Fox in action
-Grow and Develop-
Arctic fox weighs around 2.5 to 9 kg and has a length that measures about 75 to 115 cms.
The average length is 85.3 cm (33.6 in), with a range of 80 to 110 cm (31 to 43 in), in the male and 82.1 cm (32.3 in), with a range of 71.3 to 85 cm (28.1 to 33 in), in the female. The tail is 31 cm (12.2 in) long in the male and 30 cm (11.8 in) long in the female. It is 25–30 cm (9.8–11.8 in) high at the shoulder. On average males weigh 3.5 kg (7.7 lb), with a range of 3.2 to 9.4 kg (7.1 to 21 lb), while females average 2.9 kg (6.4 lb), with a range of 1.4 to 3.2 kg (3.1 to 7.1 lb).
-Reproduction-
The arctic fox tends to be active from early September to early May. The gestation period is 52 days. Litters tend to average
5–8 kits but may be as many as 25 (the largest in the order Carnivora). Both the mother and the father help to raise their young. The females leave the family and form their own groups and the males stay with the family.
-Diet-
The arctic fox will generally eat any small animal it can find: lemmings, voles,hares, owls, eggs, and carrion, etc. Lemmings are the most common prey.
They also consume berries and seaweed and may thus be considered omnivores. It is a significant bird egg predator, excepting those of the largest tundra bird species.
-Respond to its enviroment-
Their fur is both thick so it can protect from the extreme cold and is also white which is good for camouflage. To protect it from the cold, the arctic fox also has more body fat to keep him / her warm.
The arctic fox lives in some of the most frigid extremes on the planet. Among its adaptions for cold survival is its deep, thick fur, a system of countercurrent heat exchange in the circulation of paws to retain core temperature,, and a good supply of body fat. The fox has a low area to volume ratio, as evidenced by its generally rounded body shape, short muzzle and legs, and short, thick ears. Since less of its surface area is exposed to the arctic cold, less heat escapes the body. Its furry paws allow it to walk on ice in search of food. The arctic fox has such keen hearing that it can precisely locate the position of prey under the snow. When it finds prey, it pounces and punches through the snow to catch its victim. Its fur changes color with the seasons: in the winter it is white to blend in with snow, while in the summer it is brown.
-Needs-
1-FOOD:The Artic fox is an omnivore but it mostly eats meat such as lemmings, reptiles and whatever eggs they can find.
2-WATER: The artic fox drinks from streams, ponds, standing water, and will even drink the snow as it melts.
3-SHELTER: The artic fox digs a hole which is also called a den,this is where it sleeps and raises its young.
4-AIR: An artic fox breaths in oxygen and exhales carbon-dioxide.
The Arctic fox digs deep burrows in the side of the cliff to inhabit. These are also known to live in a den or a cave. These foxes also bury themselves into the snow for protection from othere wild animals.
Arctic foxes they generally move to different areas in the lookout for food. It is during the summer season when they live in groups that consist of mostly males and few females along with the kits. (The baby fox
These are known to shed their fur at least twice a year. This helps them camouflage themselves with the ever-changing environment.
It is also the only one from the dog family to change its colors.
The tail of the Arctic fox is bushy, almost like a cat's tail. This helps it to maintain the balance of the body and also acts as a warm protection from the cold winters.
The Arctic fox reaches sexual maturity as early as 10 months. These tend to be sexually active in the months of early March to the early days of April. Here, both the males as well as the females look after the young ones. The young kits are raised in large dens and while the young males are known to stray away from the family later on, the females tend to remain with the family.
Here is a video about baby cubs playiing in the snow click the link below Baby Arctic Foxes play in the white snow -Pichures of the arctic fox-
Scientific Classification
This little guy is called an arctic fox the scientific word for it is Vulpes lagopus and the latin name for the arctic fox is Arcticum Vulpes. Here is a video of an arctic fox in action. Arctic Fox in action
-Grow and Develop-
Arctic fox weighs around 2.5 to 9 kg and has a length that measures about 75 to 115 cms.
The average length is 85.3 cm (33.6 in), with a range of 80 to 110 cm (31 to 43 in), in the male and 82.1 cm (32.3 in), with a range of 71.3 to 85 cm (28.1 to 33 in), in the female. The tail is 31 cm (12.2 in) long in the male and 30 cm (11.8 in) long in the female. It is 25–30 cm (9.8–11.8 in) high at the shoulder. On average males weigh 3.5 kg (7.7 lb), with a range of 3.2 to 9.4 kg (7.1 to 21 lb), while females average 2.9 kg (6.4 lb), with a range of 1.4 to 3.2 kg (3.1 to 7.1 lb).
-Reproduction-
The arctic fox tends to be active from early September to early May. The gestation period is 52 days. Litters tend to average
5–8 kits but may be as many as 25 (the largest in the order Carnivora). Both the mother and the father help to raise their young. The females leave the family and form their own groups and the males stay with the family.
-Diet-
The arctic fox will generally eat any small animal it can find: lemmings, voles,hares, owls, eggs, and carrion, etc. Lemmings are the most common prey.
They also consume berries and seaweed and may thus be considered omnivores. It is a significant bird egg predator, excepting those of the largest tundra bird species.
-Respond to its enviroment-
Their fur is both thick so it can protect from the extreme cold and is also white which is good for camouflage. To protect it from the cold, the arctic fox also has more body fat to keep him / her warm.
The arctic fox lives in some of the most frigid extremes on the planet. Among its adaptions for cold survival is its deep, thick fur, a system of countercurrent heat exchange in the circulation of paws to retain core temperature,, and a good supply of body fat. The fox has a low area to volume ratio, as evidenced by its generally rounded body shape, short muzzle and legs, and short, thick ears. Since less of its surface area is exposed to the arctic cold, less heat escapes the body. Its furry paws allow it to walk on ice in search of food. The arctic fox has such keen hearing that it can precisely locate the position of prey under the snow. When it finds prey, it pounces and punches through the snow to catch its victim. Its fur changes color with the seasons: in the winter it is white to blend in with snow, while in the summer it is brown.
-Needs-
1-FOOD:The Artic fox is an omnivore but it mostly eats meat such as lemmings, reptiles and whatever eggs they can find.
2-WATER: The artic fox drinks from streams, ponds, standing water, and will even drink the snow as it melts.
3-SHELTER: The artic fox digs a hole which is also called a den,this is where it sleeps and raises its young.
4-AIR: An artic fox breaths in oxygen and exhales carbon-dioxide.
-Facts about the Arctic Fox-
Go click on this link to watch a Arctic Fox move her cubs ArcticFox moves her cubs
- The tail of the Arctic fox is bushy, almost like a cat's tail. This helps it to maintain the balance of the body and also acts as a warm protection from the cold winters.
- The Arctic fox reaches sexual maturity as early as 10 months. These tend to be sexually active in the months of early March to the early days of April. Here, both the males as well as the females look after the young ones. The young kits are raised in large dens and while the young males are known to stray away from the family later on, the females tend to remain with the family.
Here is a video about baby cubs playiing in the snow click the link belowBaby Arctic Foxes play in the white snow
-Pichures of the arctic fox-
Scientific Classification